Senior Director, Neuroimmunology Research

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world.  We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual.  At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Clinical Development & Research – Non-MD

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, San Diego, California, United States of America, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is seeking an accomplished scientific leader to join our R&D organization as Senior Director, Neuroimmunology Research, reporting to the VP of Global Discovery and External Innovation for Neuroscience, to be located in Spring House, PA; San Diego, CA; or Cambridge, MA.

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Our Neuroscience team tackles the world’s toughest brain health challenges including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism. This patient-focused team helps address some of the most complex diseases of our time.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

This role will be responsible for strengthening the relationship between J&J’s Neuroscience and Immunology therapeutic areas.

This role will work closely with the therapeutic area leadership and Disease Area Stronghold (DAS) leaders in co-creating and implementing the NeuroImmunology strategy to identify Clinical Candidates that can be developed in the clinic. The successful candidate will lead this work within the Discovery Organization and will partner effectively across multiple functions to ensure excellent execution of the strategy. This role will report directly to the Head of Discovery and External Innovation for Neuroscience.

This role is instrumental in our mission to strengthen our NeuroImmunology portfolio and build a transformational Neuroscience portfolio to develop novel treatments for Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Diseases as well as treatments for selected ophthalmology indications such as Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Geographic Atrophy.

The role requires excellent communication and teamwork skills, an appetite for innovation, as well as keen attention to detail and organization. You should have a sense of purpose and drive, and a passion to address the considerable unmet medical need in Neuroscience and an alignment with our CREDO-based courage & care culture.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead scientific strategy at the interface of immunology and neuroscience, contributing to the overall TA strategy, with a focus on novel therapies for neurological disorders

• Provide deep subject matter expertise in:

  • Regulatory T cell (Treg) biology and immune tolerance

  • B cell biology, antibody-mediated disease, and deep B cell depletion approaches

  • Autoimmunity, neuroinflammation, and CNS immune mechanisms

• Identify opportunities to apply immune-modulating approaches to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune psychosis

• Build and strengthen cross-functional collaboration between J&J’s Neuroscience and Immunology Discovery teams.

• Support the VP of Early Development in shaping the translational strategy to move assets to the clinic.

• Present projects and strategy at governance meetings.

• Lead target identification, validation, translational strategy, biomarker development, and portfolio prioritization in neuroimmunology programs.

• Guide internal and external research collaborations with academic institutions, biotech partners, and key opinion leaders.

• Represent the company externally through scientific conferences, advisory boards, and publications.

• Drive scientific excellence and ensure programs are informed by cutting-edge external science and competitive intelligence.

• Support external collaborations and diligences on licensing and M&A opportunities

Education and Experience Requirements:

• PhD, or MD/PhD in Immunology or Neuroscience

• 10+ years of relevant industry and/or academic experience, with significant leadership experience in drug discovery or translational research.

• Deep expertise in relevant immune-science (Treg biology, immune tolerance mechanisms, and/or B cell depletion strategies).

• Strong understanding of the role of the immune system in neurological diseases.

• Experience translating biological insights into therapeutic hypotheses and development programs.

• Demonstrated success leading matrixed, multidisciplinary teams

• Strong publication record in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

• Excellent communication, influencing, and executive presence.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

#LI-Hybrid

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$196,000.00 - $342,700.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:
•Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
•Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
•Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
•Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
•Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
•Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
•Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
•Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
•Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits